A thirteen-year old boy could be seen shuffling down a street without an umbrella as the rain poured down from the heavens in sheets. He seemed to take no notice of the dismal weather, and continued at the same pace, as if he had no desire to get to his destination. His spiky hair stuck up every which way, even when soaking wet, except for his golden bangs that clung limply to his forehead. Sad amethyst eyes watched the ground in front of him numbly, not caring to take in his surroundings. The boy's name was Yugi, but he was hardly ever called that. It was always "shrimp," "half-pint," or something similar. He was small for his age, and didn't seem as though he got enough to eat. He slipped in a puddle suddenly and his feet flew out from under him, landing him on his face
'Aw, man...' he thought glumly as he raised himself to his hands and knees. 'Now okaa-sama will never let me come in the front...' He was shocked out of is reverie when a hand was offered to him. Yugi looked up astonished at the person who would help him freely. The man, he looked like one, but Yugi couldn't tell, was wearing a black cloak that hid his face.
"Are you alright?" Yugi swallowed nervously and nodded, shaking slightly. The man was rather intimidating.
"That was quite a tumble you took, young one. What's your name?" Yugi mumbled something as he cautiously took the man's hand.
"I didn't catch that, young one." the kind man said as he helped the boy to his feet.
"... Yugi..." At this, the man stepped back immediately.
"Mutou Yugi!?" Yugi nodded shakily.
'I knew it... he doesn't want to help me...' Yugi's train of thought was abruptly halted when the man fell on one knee and bowed before him.
"I never thought I would meet you here, Yugi-sama. Please forgive me for not recognizing you, my liege!!" Yugi blinked.
"L-L-Liege? What d-d-do you mean s-s-sir? I'm j-j-just Yugi..." The man raised his head, or so it appeared.
"You don't know of your importance, Yugi-sama!?" Yugi shook his head vigorously.
"I-I'm nobody s-s-special, mister." The man grabbed Yugi's hands.
"You don't know! You really don't know!!" The man hurriedly let go of his hands and dug into a bag beneath his cloak, pulling out a tightly wrapped box, which he thrust into Yugi's hands.
"Wh-Wh-What are you giving me this for, m-mister?" Yugi looked up at the man with confusion clear in his eyes.
"Now is not the time for questions, Yugi-sama. Hurry, you must take that and run! You must solve the Millennium Puzzle, Yugi-sama! You must! It is impossibly vital that you do!! Run now, Yugi-sama. They still think I have it. Hurry, run! I shall provide a distraction for you!!" The man ignored Yugi's protests and ran away, leaving the thoroughly mystified boy behind.
'Well, he said I should run...I wonder what he was talking about... And what's in this box?' Questions were filling the small boy's mind as he ran to the place he lived. He couldn't really call it a "home," but he didn't have anywhere else to go. His grandfather had raised him until he was five, but had to move away, out of the country. He had given Yugi to his nephew and niece-in-law, leaving them to look after the small boy. The first few months had been great. His new parents were very kind to him. His new mother was expecting a child soon, and Yugi couldn't wait to have a little sibling. Yugi's eyes closed in pain as he remembered that day...
FLASHBACK
Five-year-old Yugi ran home with a huge grin on his face. Today was the day. He should have a new baby brother or sister. He ran inside the house, and his smile vanished. She was sitting at the table, sobbing inconsolably. His adopted father turned to look at him and Yugi paled. His father was glaring at him.
"It's all your fault you brat!!"
"What do you mean otou-san? I just-"
"It's your fault he died!! You brought bad luck!!" His mother screamed, pointing her finger at him accusingly. Yugi blinked back tears.
"But I didn't do anything!!"
"It's all your fault!! And now you're going to pay!!" His father roared as he advanced on the young boy.
END FLASHBACKYugi shuddered. The beatings had begun that night, and it hadn't stopped in the eight years following. He had only been sent to the hospital once, his father was usually very careful not to leave any glaring evidence. Yugi had been thoroughly warned what would happen if he ever told anyone... he shuddered again at the thought.
'I shouldn't be out here in the rain. I can't afford to get a cold...' Yugi finally arrived at his house. He opened the front door a small crack and peeked inside. Nobody was home yet. He breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped inside and removed his soggy shoes and jacket. He ran upstairs to the hallway, and opened the trapdoor to the attic. Yugi climbed the ladder up into his bedroom. It was a good thing he was so short, or he would have had to bend over in the small space. He looked around at his meager things as he clicked the light on. He didn't have much, his parents made sure of that. A futon lay on the floor, while a small desk sat facing the tiny window. There was a small dresser to hold the few outfits he owned, and a small picture of his grandfather and him, taken when Yugi was three, sitting on his desk. Yugi hung his dripping clothes up to dry, and changed into some dry clothes. He sat down on his futon and placed the box in his lap.
'I wonder what was so important inside here?' He unwrapped the box and gasped. It was gold. He was holding something worth more than anything he owned in his lap. He examined the sides of the box. They were covered in some form of hieroglyphic markings... Maybe it was Egyptian? He opened the box and his heart soared, a huge grin appearing on his face for the first time in almost a year. It was a puzzle! There was a puzzle made of gold inside the box!!! Yugi almost jumped up and started dancing with joy. He loved puzzles! He had always been unbelievably quick in solving them, but he would keep solving them until he couldn't solve them any faster. Out of obligation, his parents got him a gift on his birthday. It was always a jigsaw puzzle, a cheap one, but a puzzle nonetheless. With trembling fingers he lifted a few pieces out of the box and examined them. They were unlike any puzzle pieces he had ever seen. He was in the middle of his happy little world when he heard something that made his blood run cold. His parents were home. They'd take it away! That man gave it to him! It was his, he said so! He panicked, and grabbed one of his old socks, dumped all of the pieces inside, and slid his futon aside. He quickly pulled up the loose floorboard he had discovered a while ago. He set the pieces down next to his journal, replaced the floorboard, and moved his futon back. And none too soon. The door to his room burst open, and his father's enraged, and more than slightly drunk, head appeared.
"Oi, runt? You up here!?"
"Ha-Ha-Hai, otou-s-s-sama!" Yugi gulped nervously.
"Time for your punishment, shon." his father drawled as he heaved himself up the ladder. Yugi's heart nearly stopped. His ribs hadn't recovered from his last beating yet.
"I-I-I g-got something f-f-for you, otou-sama!!" Yugi snatched the box and held it out to his father. His father's drunkenness and anger seemed to vanish.
"Where'd you get that!? Give it to me boy!!" Yugi quickly handed the box over.
"Gold..." his father whispered as he looked it over. He opened it, and glared at Yugi.
"It's empty. You didn't empty it, did you?" Yugi shook his head frantically.
"Iie!! It w-w-w-was like that, ot-t-t-ou-sama!! Honest it was!!" His father sighed.
"Fine. You're off the hook for now, shrimp. I'll bet I can sell this to a museum or something..." his voice trailed off as he walked down the stairs and the door slid shut behind him, locking for the night. Yugi breathed a huge sigh of relief and collapsed onto his bed.
'I did it... it's safe...' He was a little sad about giving the box up, but it was a small price to pay for keeping those pieces safe. He took them back out, as well as his journal, and grabbed a pen from the desk. He started writing.
Something really weird happened to me on the way home. Some man stopped me and gave me a puzzle made out of gold. I had to give the box to otou-sama, but it's okay as long as I have the puzzle. I wonder what it'll look like when it's done? I don't think it's like normal puzzles- Yugi's writing was interrupted when golden letters appeared beneath his own.
This puzzle is no ordinary one. Solve it, and you will break my seal. Yugi's head was spinning.
Seal of what?I was sealed inside the Millennium Puzzle by those blinded by fear. I am the destroyer who listens only to the Pharaoh. He alone has the privilege of calling on my power. Any other who attempts to shall be destroyed. His alone is the voice that commands me to "Obliterate!" and I do so. If you break my seal, you will never know defeat. Yugi's head was really working overtime now. He scribbled a response.
Who are you?I am the one born in darkness. The destroyer. The forbidden one. Exodia. The faint glow that had surrounded his journal vanished, leaving a thoroughly rattled Yugi to stare at it for a full five minutes. When he finally worked up the courage to touch the offending book again, he quickly closed it and hid it under the bed again. Breathing heavily, he decided to work on the puzzle instead of dwelling on the freaky incident that had just happened. He began fitting the pieces together, but soon ran into a wall. He'd never tried to solve a puzzle like this before... he was literally shaking with anticipation as he kept trying to piece it together. He was rudely interrupted when his door was pounded on.
"LIGHTS OUT RUNT!! BEDTIME!!" his father roared.
"H-H-Hai!!"
'Oh well... I guess I should get to sleep since-' Realization hit him like a hammer between the eyes. He started middle school tomorrow!! He'd completely forgotten with his encounter with the strange man!! Yugi climbed into bed, his mind already worrying about what was going to happen on the first day at his new school. He wondered if the Puzzle had magical powers. It couldn't hurt, right? What did he have to lose?
"I wish I had some friends..." he whispered to whoever was listening. Finally his mind lost the battle to remain conscious, and he fell into a fitful slumber. Under the floorboard, the puzzle glowed softly.
Yugi snuck out of his room the next morning, and grabbed a quick breakfast. His stomach was full of butterflies, but he was too nervous too eat anything real big. He grabbed his things and left the house, locking the door behind him. After walking to school, he walked shakily into his first class. His morning classes were a blur, and he managed to function on autopilot. Once lunch rolled around, Yugi looked around the courtyard for an empty seat. He swallowed nervously as his eyes took in the lack of empty seats. Then he saw one, against the corner of the walls. He walked over, trying to ignore the stares and whispers.
"Can he really be here? He's only ten!!"
"Ten? He's eight!! He's too short!"
"What's with that hair?" He smiled a small smile. After what his mother put him through, this was nothing. It was then that he noticed that his spot was taken.
Mazaki Anzu yawned and rubbed her eyes as she sat up in bed. It was morning already? She dragged herself out of the comforting warmth of her blankets and walked over to the mirror in her room. Clear, bright blue eyes looked back at her. Her dad had told her once that she had eyes a boy could get lost in. Her chocolate-brown hair reached past her chin. All in all, her family told her she was very pretty. There was just one problem...
'I'm a blob...' Anzu thought with a grimace as she looked in the mirror. She was fairly heavy, and she knew it. She had tried every diet that she could, but they all had the same result. She would always gain back the weight she'd lost and almost half as much again. Over time, she'd given up dieting. She didn't like being fat, but there was nothing conceivable she could do to change it. After a short shower, she got dressed and walked down to the kitchen.
"Good morning angel!" her mother said cheerfully.
"Hi kaa-chan." Anzu couldn't help but smile despite her depressed mood. Her mom could cheer anyone up, with her bright disposition and cheerful enthusiasm. She was a doctor, and a good one too. She worked at the Domino City Central Hospital as a children's doctor. Her mother noticed Anzu's dismal mood.
"Worried about your first day, sweetie?" Anzu sighed as she sat down to eat.
"Yeah, I guess so... I hope the kids are nicer than my old school." Her mother smiled sadly as she dried her hands and walked over to her daughter, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Mazaki Anzu, you listen to me. You're a very pretty girl. If the nitwits at your school can't see the real you, then they're not worth your time."
"But kaa-chan-"
"No buts, young lady. You're not fat because you're lazy, you don't overeat, and you're in perfect health. Some people are just built differently. You're fine just the way you are." Tea smiled and blushed slightly at her mother's encouragement.
"Arigato, kaachan. Oh no!! I have to leave!" Anzu stood up and gathered up her things quickly, taking her bento from her mother after giving her a hug.
"I'll be home around six, sweetie! Have a good day!"
"Ja!" Anzu called as she walked down the steps and toward her school. Maybe her mom was right. Maybe this day wouldn't be so bad after all. Just maybe she could make some friends. As she walked into her first class, she looked around at the other students. They hadn't noticed her yet, so she just chose a desk and sat down.
Anzu blinked the tears from her eyes and sniffled as she sat down in the corner of the courtyard. She'd been teased for her weight before, but nothing like this. She'd lost count of how many times the other students had 'moooed' behind her back, how many times she'd been called "cow," "heifer," or "The Incredible Blob." Simply put, her first five classes had been hell... Except for that one boy. He was really short, and his spiky hair looked odd. He was the only one that was nice to her...
FLASHBACK
Anzu's eyes stung with unshed tears as she walked to her fourth class. She was miserable, but was still hoping that maybe her next class might be better-
CRASH
Anzu rubbed her sore rear as she sat up.
"Watch where you're going, cowgirl!!" A blonde girl said as she purposely kicked Anzu's bag across the hall, effectively scattering its contents. The other students laughed as they walked by, none offering to pick her things up. She glumly started picking them up herself when someone stopped walking, leaned over into a trash can, and pulled out a pencil case.
"You d-d-dropped this, on-n-nee-san." he almost whispered. She looked up at him, but not very far. His hair was black with a purplish tint, and stuck up wildly in back. His spiky golden bangs hung down into his violet eyes. He flushed when she looked at him, squeaked, and ran off down the hall.
END FLASHBACK
She smiled when she remembered her little helper.
'My little guardian angel...' she thought with a smile.
"E-E-Excuse m-me, onee-san, i-i-is this seat t-t-taken?"
Jonouchi Katsuya walked away from his house, cursing under his breath. His dad was drunk off his rocker again.
'No wonder kaa-san took Shizuka away from that worthless excuse for a human.' He mumbled any other obscenities he knew, which was quite a long list. He was your stereotypical tough guy. Nobody liked him, and he was fine with that. His mother had moved away after the divorce, when he was still young. She'd taken his little sister along with her, and now Jonouchi wished that she'd taken him too. He got into scraps every day. Heck, he had a reserved seat at his old elementary school, dubbed "Jonouchi's Throne," used only for those students who "couldn't quite get along." That meant pounding the living crap out of anyone who pissed him off, but that was fine with him. He earned a few strange looks as he walked into his first class. One taste of his 'look-at-me-wrong-and-I'll-rearrange-your-anatomy' glare and they were all looking anywhere else but at him. He slouched back in his desk and yawned. His old man had made him make a booze run last night. He idly wondered if it was a bad thing that the guy at the sake store knew him by name. The instructor walked into the room, and Jonouchi christened the start of the school year just like he had all the others.
'Ah, screw it.'
Jonouchi walked out into the courtyard to eat lunch, blinking the sleep out of his eyes. He'd fallen asleep during the first ten minutes of class each period so far. Resignedly, he shuffled over to the corner of the courtyard where he saw a tubby girl sitting and sniffling under a tree.
"E-E-Excuse m-me, onee-san, i-i-is this seat t-t-taken?" Jonouchi nearly jumped out of his skin. Man, that boy was short. He was hardly noticeable, except for his impossibly loud hair. The kid was a waif, he barely had any meat on him.
"Iie, go ahead and have a seat." The little boy smiled shyly and sat down, acting worried.
"Arigato."
"I'm the one that should be saying that. For your help earlier, I mean."
'Oh, what the hell?'
"Mind if I join yas?"
"Mind if I join yas?" a tall, golden-brown haired boy said as he walked over. "Nowhere else ta sit." Yugi practically took off like a rocket, and Anzu looked at him, startled.
"S-Sure..." she replied.
"Thanks." Jonouchi plopped down on the other side of the smaller boy. The three of them ate in silence for a while.
"I'm Mazaki Anzu."
"Jonouchi Katsuya." he muttered.
"M-M-M-Mutou Yugi..." the boy practically whispered.
"Speak up, kid. Can hardly hear yas." Yugi looked down.
"That wasn't very nice!" Anzu scolded him. Jonouchi ignored her lecture.
"Why ya sittin' here by yourself, Mazaki? Dontcha have any friends?" She looked down sadly.
"Not here..." Yugi finally mustered the courage to look at the taller boy.
"I w-w-wish I h-h-had one..."
"What?"
"A f-f-f-friend." The other two looked at him with surprise.
"Ya don't have one, ki- Yugi?" Jonouchi reminded himself to use the boy's name.
"Iie... I-I don't really talk to new people..."
"Why not? You're nice. You helped me when nobody else would..." Anzu trailed off.
"Yer fat. So what? Not like it's your choice." Jonouchi commented as he chucked his apple core in the trash. Anzu's eyes widened.
"Hey cow! Move it! I'm sitting here now!" said a girl with blond hair as she sauntered up. Her boyfriend followed her, all brawn and no brains. Anzu's eyes fell, and she started to get up. Yugi stood.
"L-L-Leave Anzu-san alone!" he managed not to shake to violently, but his voice cracked on the last word, making his threat not quite so threatening. The boyfriend chuckled and stepped forward.
"What did you just say to my girl, small fry?" Yugi started shaking again, and his knees were like jelly. Wordlessly, Jonouchi got up and walked over.
"Yo, shrimp. Take the girl outta here." Yugi nodded, and ran back over to Anzu. They both walked away.
"Can I help you?" the musclehead asked Jonouchi.
"Actually, yeah, you can. Y'see, I've got a swell bad mood goin'..." Jonouchi drove his knee into the other boy's stomach, making him double over, followed by an elbow to the back of the head, which made him kiss the pavement with an audible smack, all of which took place in about two seconds. The girl started screaming bloody murder, and some teachers ran over quickly. Yugi and Anzu watched from the other side of the courtyard. Anzu put her hand on his shoulder.
"Let's check on him after school, ne?" Yugi nodded wordlessly, feeling a strange pain in his chest.
'What's this feeling? Is this what it feels like to have friends...?'
Jonouchi walked out of the counselor's office with a sour expression on his face.
"Katsuya!" Anzu called as she walked up, Yugi following closely.
"Jonouchi. Call me Jonouchi. Only one person can call me by my first name." Anzu looked puzzled, but nodded.
"Okay then, Jonouchi. What happened in there?" He shrugged.
"Nothin' important. The old bat just talked my ear off about how I shouldn't flatten people into the ground. Don't see what's wrong with that..." Yugi took a deep breath. It was a huge risk, but he had to take it.
"Ano..."
"Nani, Yugi-kun?" Anzu asked, smiling at him.
"Will you two b-b-be my f-f-f-friends?" he murmured in a rush.
"What are ya, a moron?" Jonouchi asked. Tears blurred Yugi's vision. So they didn't. he should have known.
"Of course we're yer friends, short stuff! Don't talk nonsense. You two are the only ones who aren't afraid of me or hate me." the tough boy said. Anzu nodded.
"You two are nice to me, even when nobody else is. You even stuck up for me." Anzu hugged Yugi and Jonouchi. Yugi stiffened, unused to this kind of physical interaction. She didn't seem to notice, but Jonouchi did. Once out of the hug, Yugi smiled at both of them.
"I have to be going now. Okaa-sama's expecting me home!" he waved as he ran off. Anzu waved back, but Jonouchi wasn't so enthusiastic.
"Somethin's up with him."
"What do you mean!?" Anzu asked heatedly.
"He's too skinny. And somethin' else, you notice how he flinches every time someone touches him, like he's expectin' to be hurt?"
"You don't think his parents-" Anzu asked in disbelief.
"I wouldn't be surprised." he muttered darkly. He turned and walked away.
"See yas in second period."
"If you're awake then!!"
Three hearts, filled with the pain of loneliness, now have found kindred spirits. What does the future hold for them? And what of the entity called "Exodia?"
Okaa-sama/kaa-chan/kaa-san Mother, mom
Otou-sama/otou-san Father, dad
Iie No
Hai Yes
Ja Bye, later
Onee-san older sister
Ano Um, Uh
Hi guys!! This is my first Yu-Gi-Oh fanfic, so please be easy on me!! Tell me what you think.